Turkey appoints new ambassador to Israel: ErdoganNovember 16, 2016 - 15:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey has appointed a foreign policy advisor to the prime minister as ambassador to Israel, sealing the normalisation of diplomatic relations after a six-year partial rupture, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, November 16, AFP reports. The deadly 2010 storming by Israeli commandos of a Turkish ship trying to break the naval blockade of Gaza prompted Ankara to expel the Israeli envoy and cease all military cooperation with Israel. Israel and Turkey agreed in June to normalise ties after the Jewish state offered an apology over the raid, a payout of $20 million in compensation, and permission for Turkish aid to reach Gaza through Israeli ports. "We are appointing our Prime Minister's (Binali Yildirim) foreign affairs advisor Mr Kemal Okem as ambassador (to Israel)," Erdogan said before leaving on a trip to Pakistan. "I believe he started office yesterday (Tuesday)," he added. Israel also nominated a new ambassador to Turkey on Tuesday, with Eitan Naeh formally selected by an Israeli government committee. Contacted by AFP, an official for the Israeli embassy in Ankara said the new Israeli envoy has not yet started but he is expected to take up office soon once the approval process is finalised. Naeh is the current deputy head of mission at the Israeli embassy in London. The 2010 raid killed 10 Turkish activists, plunging relations to an all-time low with Erdogan on one occasion even accusing Israel of "keeping Hitler's spirit alive". But the two sides are already working to bring cooperation back to former levels and are holding talks for building an ambitious project for a pipeline to pump Israeli gas to Turkey and Europe. The state-run Anadolu news agency said on Tuesday that Israeli and Turkish energy officials held their first working meeting on the project last week. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Viva-MTS: Tech solutions to modernize infrastructure of border village The border village has been the focus of Viva-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values since 2015. Ucom's fixed network launched in Artashat To mark this occasion, the company has introduced a special offer exclusively for Artashat residents. “By Your Side”: IDBank's new support program for displaced Artsakh citizens IDBank is launching a long-term social support program for forcibly displaced Artsakh residents. The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. |